The Inverness Military Tattoo which is watched by thousands every year has been scrapped.

The tattoo has been running for more than 60 years, but organisers have called time on the historic event.

Cutbacks in the armed forces, and increasing pressure for cadet groups, means there is not enough manpower to run the event.

Colonel Roddy Wood, Inverness Tattoo chairman, said: "It is quite sad to stop it, but practicalities had to come into it.

"It comes down to a combination of things. There are no regular services to help and the cadets are not able to take it on. We used to have around 4000 visitors in over the six nights."

Asked if there was a chance that the tattoo could be resurrected in the future, he replied: "I would like to say never say never.

"At the moment it is a permanent decision but you never know. Maybe in the future, yes we could have a look at it again, or change it to something else."